A BANK holiday crowd of 552 were treated to a derby encounter at Rookery Hill today (Monday, 2 December) where Grays Athletic made a memorable start to 2023 with a 2-1 win against hosts and local rivals East Thurrock United in the Isthmian North.

The opening goal came on 38 minutes when the ball was played swiftly down the left and crossed between home keeper Montel Joseph and his defenders and was met at the far post by Sam Bantick who was on hand to guide the ball home.

It wasn't until the 90th minute that Grays were to get their second goal and ultimately the glancing header from sub Cheyce Grant, who had replaced Bantick six minutes earlier, as he rose to meet a corner proved decisive as it crossed the line past the fumbling Joseph.

Decisive because East Thurrock won a free kick following the restart and took it quickly with Jordan Peart racing through to score. However, there wasn't enough time for an equaliser and Grays took the spoils!

Over at Brentwood another defeat for Tilbury proved too much for the Dockers, who dismissed veteran manager John Coventry after a 4-2 defeat. Ultimately it was not one match that cost Coventry his post, but an inconsistent season when Coventry's team often flattered only to deceive.

It was very much that story at the Arena today.

Tilbury made a decent start but found themselves a goal down after five minutes when Solomon Ogunwomoju forced the ball home after lack-lustre defending.

Tilbury bounced back and took the game to their hosts, drawing level on after 12 minutes when Charlie Morris raced through and slotted the ball past one time Tilbury keeper Harry Girling.

Girling then denied the Dockers the lead with a finger tip save from Morris's glancing header.

Tilbury felt they were unlucky not to get a penalty just after the half hour when Matt Cripps brought down Alex Clark as he burst into the box. Cripps was probably lucky to stay on the pitch, picking up just a yellow card when it was only his foul that stopped Clark striking the ball goalwards and angst was added to Tilbury's anger when the referee adjudicated contact had taken place outside the box. David Knight drilled the subsequent free kick wide and just a few minutes later it was Brentwood who were celebrating when more slack marking allowed George Craddock to slam an angled ball home from close range.

Such it the way of football - the side that deserved the lead went in a goal down and though they had plenty of ball in the opening stages of the second half it was Brentwood who were to get the game's fourth goal through James Folkes on 63 minutes.

Tilbury came back again and Knight smashed home an effort to give Dockers hope on 68 minutes, only for it to be doused when Daniel Ogunleye pounced for a Brentwood fourth on 84 minutes.

There was still time for Tilbury to strike the woodwork through Martin Tuohy in the closing stages but it was too little, far too late for Dockers on the day and for Coventry, whose reign as Dockers boss ended with just four wins from 17 league matches.

In the Isthmian Premier there was another derby day crowd at Parkside where visitors Canvey Island took the spoils against Aveley in front of 603 specatators.

They witnessed just one goal, a 61 minute effort from Bradley Sach that gave the Islanders victory and they ended the day in sixth, one place behind Aveley with the sides matched on 38 points and an equal goal difference - just separated by the four more goals that Aveley have scored.